I know several moms with multiple boys who homeschool.  I just don't know how they actually do it without loosing their minds or strangling thier sons. 

Before we started having children, I thought my ideal family was 3 boys.  No more, no less. 
God knew better.  He gave me girls. 
In fact he gave me the sweetest, easiest girl ever for my first child.  She has always been an easy child.  Since birth, a good sleeper, good eater, and a happy demeanor were things I would say about this girl.  She is now 8 years old.  She is a compliant child by nature and a 'traditional' learner as a student.  She is easy to teach, excited to learn, she works hard and catches on quickly.  What a case of false advertising of homeschooling for me.  She did NOT pave the way for her younger brother. 
He is a challenge, to say the least.  It's not that he's not bright.  He is.  In fact, I would venture to say that he's probably smarter than his older sister, though I would never tell her that.  It's his personality, his 'boyness' (yes, I made up a word) that challenges me.  I am forever trying to find ways to keep his interest and focus.  He is SOOO easily distracted and s.....l.....o.....w..... when it comes to getting his schoolwork finished.  I know he's getting it because his answers are flawless and his questions are totally appropriate and thoughtful. I am confident that the material we are using is right for him.  I'm not so sure that my approach is right though.  I am continually frustrated with his inability to focus and stop moving.  I am convinced that if he were in PS, he would coming home with pages and pages of HW because he was unable to finish in class. 
Today my girls each finished 6 pages of math (yes, they got a little ambitious) in the same amount of time it took for him to complete ONE page. Argggg!!!!  
Even when I sit right next to him and walk him through it, step by step, he'll gaze off into space or start zooming his pencil like a rocketship. (sigh) 
He's a boy.
He's a 6 (almost 7) year old boy.
I know I can't fight his nature.  I know that God made him this way.  I know that I need to embrace his 'boyness' (yes, there's that word again) and work with him instead of against him.  But how?
I am a girl.  I understand my girls.  I know how their brains work and how to reach them.  They sit still and listen.  They are quiet and clean.  They don't tap their pencils or zoom them around like rocketships.  They concentrate and finish in a timely manner. 
Not the boy.  He's a monkey in a cage.  He just can't wait to leap from his chair and run. 
I don't think we have unrealistic expectations of him.  We allow lots of breaks and plenty of outdoor activity and time to play.  School for him is only 2-3 hours and even that is broken up into 15-20 min segments with breaks in between.  But, he needs to learn this stuff.  He needs to be able to read and write and finish an asignment without constant supervision and prodding.  I need to find a way to help him concentrate without getting upset at him.  He's getting into trouble because I just don't know what else to do to motivate him.  I don't want to punish him for being a boy, but I don't want to let his behavior get in the way of his education either.  School can't and won't always be fun and active.  He needs to learn to sit and concentrate and finish in a timely fashion.  How do I accomplish that?

As much as we would LOVE to have a boy, it's school days like today that lead me to hoping this next baby is a girl too.

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Posted by Anonymous

He's lucky to have YOU for a teacher. You appreciate him as he is and as he can be. I am confident that you will find a way to help him stay interested and focused. ... and I'm so happy for him ... that he has the most Outstanding Teacher!

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Posted by Anonymous

maybe he needs to fly his pencil in a time-out corner

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Posted by Bethany

First of all, we hope you're having a boy ;)

Secondly, when you figure out a way to get him to focus and sit still PLEASE let me know the secret! I'm struggling with it everyday.

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Posted by Anonymous

You just described my school days...minus the quiet, clean girls! An no, I haven't figured out the best way to deal with it yet, either!

Jenny (momto5littleboys from momys)

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Posted by Dana

Hhhmm, every child is different but have you tried jumping jacks or some other physical activity when he is having difficulty focusing? My soon to be 7 year old occasionally has similar difficulties. I have had him do jumping jacks (counting A-Z or to 25) when he is not focusing. Or how about giving him his big physical activity first- burn the energy out of him so he can be settled for a longer period of time.

HTH!

Dana
oursunnyside.blogspot.com

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